4 of the Coolest Album Covers of the 1990s

Album covers can sometimes make or break the appeal of an album. These five super-cool album covers from the 1990s only made the music within their sleeves even better. Let’s take a look at just a few killer album covers from the 1990s and why we love them!

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1. ‘Diary’ by Sunny Day Real Estate

Few records embody the vibe of emo with just an album cover quite like the cover of the 1994 album Diary by Sunny Day Real Estate. This cover is a piece of artwork that depicts a group of family figures not unlike old-school Little People toys. The figures are bathed in an unsettling shadow, smiles on their faces, as a toaster burns in flames on a nearby table.

2. ‘Washing Machine’ by Sonic Youth

Out of all the album covers from the 1990s on our list, the cover of the 1995 album Washing Machine by Sonic Youth is the simplest. But sometimes, simplicity is just so cool. The cover photo depicts two fans who were photographed at a Sonic Youth show in Massachusetts in 1995. 

Washing Machine was still in production when the photo was snapped. However, the band was already releasing merch featuring washing machines, as they were considering changing their name to “Washing Machine” at the time. Band member Kim Gordon took the photo. Since the band did not know the names of the fans nor had any way to get in touch with them, their faces were cropped out for the cover.

3. ‘Pills ‘N Thrills And Bellyaches’ by Happy Mondays

This album cover is a kaleidoscope of artwork and symbolism. The 1990 baggy rock album Pills ‘N Thrills And Bellyaches by Happy Mondays was produced by a Manchester-based design company called Central Station Designs. 

The art features a number of American candy wrappers and other images splayed across the cover with the band’s name and album title overlaid on top in cartoonish lettering. You’ll see imagery from both Los Angeles and London, where the record was recorded and then mixed, respectively.

4. ‘Upgrade & Afterlife’ by Gastr Del Sol

The potential symbolism behind this album cover is nothing short of fascinating. Upgrade & Afterlife by Gastr Del Sol was released in 1996 with an album cover that depicts two black boots with water exploding out of them. 

The post-rock band chose this photo for the spontaneous combustion imagery. Jim O’Rourke of Gastr Del Sol would go on to use quite a few provocative images in his subsequent albums.

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